Close to Maharshi Aurobindo Samadhi is a Ganesh temple with name Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam. "It is stated there was a water tank near where the temple is now situated. It was filled with sand. Devotees placed the vinayanagar on the bank of the tank and performed religious services regularly. Hence the vinayagar came to called as Manarkula Vinayagar".

Inside temple. On temple walls are images of Ganesha is various parts of India and S.E.Asia. This album shows individual images.

"M F Martin who founded Pondicherry in 1674 tried hard to stop the natives from worshipping here. Acc to folklore a Governor of Pondicherry tried his best to bury the Lord in the Bay of Bengal. But before the henchmen could reach the shore, the Lord was back in His place. The attempt to do away with the Lord was made thrice and every attempt failed. So the whiteman decided to have a decent construction for Lord Vinayaka. Hence the name ''Vellakaran Pilliyar" (Whiteman''s Vinayaka)."

Left is Vinayaga Khymer Ganesha. Right is Vinayaga Cambodian. 2 wheelers, cars and heavy vehicles pay their homage to the Lord before they start serving their new owners.

Left is Ganesha stone figure Borneo. Right is Chedi, Madhya Pradesh 6th century a.d.

Left is Ganesha Thailand 7th century. Right is Ganesha bronze image Javanese. To see pics of Ganesha and other Hindu symbols in Thailand Click here

Left is Ganesha in the pose of Buddha, Burma. Right is Vinayakar from China.